Choshi Kamome Hotel

I ended up here when my usual hotel was full during a sudden business trip. It's about a 10-minute walk from Choshi Station, though the route has so few streetlights that it was pitch black and I wondered if the hotel was really there. I'd heard the front desk was unmanned for check-ins after 9 PM, but when I arrived at 7:30 PM there was nobody. I called the number posted there, and I checked out the next morning without seeing anyone. The room had towels and a toothbrush, but the kettle and hair dryer were self-service, which made me a little uneasy about hygiene. The vinyl floor hid dust, but felt sticky, so slippers were essential. I usually walk barefoot on carpet. The free coffee was better than what I get at my usual hotels.

I could see a bridge from my room, and the place had an unusual feel for a business hotel. I checked in late, at 11 PM, and a robot or something like one showed me to the room. They also kindly gave me directions when I struggled to find the location. Free freshly ground coffee was a nice touch. I'd like to come back with my family.

The room was clean, simple, and cheaply built. Given the low price, I was fine with it. I booked online at 16:30 for a 17:00 check-in, but the entrance was hard to spot. I walked past, turned back, and found it from the sidewalk. At check-in, there was only a sign asking guests to call because nobody was there. It took around 30 minutes after I called before I could get into the room, and eventually someone from the front desk arrived after me. I wish the sign explained things more clearly. You can hear other guests through the shared hallway, which feels like part of the rooms. It got quieter around 9:00 PM, and I think there was just one other person. I imagine it could be quite noisy when the hotel is full. The coffee maker and kettle are in the elevator hall, and everything except the coffee maker can be taken to your room. There were no instructions for the coffee maker, and it had run out of creamer, which was disappointing. Check the hotel website for other facilities. I don't think there's a laundry area.

The air conditioner was noisy when running, but turning it off left the room too cold because the insulation was poor. Even with the price difference, I don't see much reason to pick this over Route Inn or somewhere similar.